Spring fob railroad-cars



T. F. ALLEN.

Car Spring.

Patented Jan. 15, 1861.

UNLTED sTATEs 'PATENT clarion.

lt F. ALLEN, OF DYERSVILLE, IOWA.

SPRING FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,102, dated January 15, 1861; Reissued July 2, 1872, No. 4,959.

To all whom it may concern:

State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Car Springs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, (Sheet 1,) represents a plan or top view of my improved railway car spring. Fig. 2, is a vertical transverse section of the same in line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a silnilar section in the line i, y, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t, shows a different method of holding the plates together. Figs. 6, 7, S and 9, (Sheet represent a modification of my improved spring.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consists in the mode of arranging and holding together metallic plates and cross bars orfulcras, so as to form a car spring which works without producing sliding friction between its parts, or abrasion by coming in contact with any part of the truck frame or car body, as herein described.

To enable others skilled in the ar-t to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation, by first referring to Sheet 1, of the drawings, and afterward to Sheet 2, of the saine.

A, A1, A2, A3, represents the metallic plates, B, B2, the end connecting cross bars or fulcras, and C, C1, C2, the central connecting cross bars or fulcras, and c, the hooks that help to hold the spring together.

The elastic plates may be flat or bent at their ends in a rectangular or any desired form so as to fit and connect with the end cross bars or fulcras.

Sheet l, represents the end cross bars or fulcras of T-form, they have a jog or shoulder A, at each end both at the top and bottom. The central connecting cross bars or fulcras are of rectangular form in their transverse section, and also have a or shoulder b, at. their ends to hold the plates transversely. The hooks c, by clasping the end cross bars or fulcras and hooking into the central cross bars or fulcras, hold the spring together longitudinally.

To arrange theplates A, A1, A2, A2, the lower plates A, are placed upon the lower central cross bar or fulcra C, the end cross bars or fulcras B, B, are placed upon the ends of the plates A. On the cross bars B, B, the second plates A1, rest, their ends fitting into the upper shouldered recesses of .the same. On the plates A1, the cross bar C1, is placed, and upon this bar plates A2, rest, their ends l'itting into the shouldered recesses of the end bars B2, B2. The hooks c, must be placed alternately in their proper position as before described. The plates A2, and cross bars B2, B2, are added. On top of plates A3, .the central cross bar C2, is placed, and upon this bar the weight attaches which works the spring.

By continuing to add plates and cross bars, as described, aspring of' almost any desired volume may be produced.

I have described the plates made in two pieces or double, but they may be made in one plate or single, and confined together by the hooks c, connecting at the'ends of the cross bars, instead of connecting at their centers.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, a modification of the spring just described is shown. The difference in the construction here adopted is the formation of a teat or lug f, on each side of the plates, and recesses for the same to lit into, in the central cross bars A, and also of a semi-circular projection S, on the end cross bars or fulcras B, B1, B2, B2, which are in this case round, and corresponding open slots in the ends of the plates which-in this case-have their ends bent in-the form of a quadrant, so as to fit the cross bars and hold them together.

2nd, the introduction of india rubber, or other packing e, e, between the plates and cross bars, the packing being let into recesses in the cross bars as represented. By this modification the hooks and angular shouldered recesses, represented in Sheet 1, of the drawings are dispensed with, and yet the plates and cross bars are held firmly together.

By arranging together metallic spring plates and cross bars or fulcras, in the manner and for the purpose described, it will be seen that short plates are used, say from ten to sixteen inches in length, without be` ing weakened by passing bolts through the plates or cross bars7 or bringing any part of the spring in contact With a surface whereby sliding friction isproduced.

The bearings points of the plates and cross bars, being placed at right angles relatively to each other, the plates Work freely over and under the cross bars or fulcras, While the said cross bars or fulcras do not oscillate7 but act as pivots or rests, over and under Which the plates deflect when the spring is n motion.

Vhat I claim as iny invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent., is

So arranging the plates and cross bars above each other, and holding the same to- A fitnesses GOODWIN Y. AT LEE, RoT. WT. FENWICK. 

